Istanbul has been proclaimed European Capital of Culture in 2010. Throughout the year the City is sharing its unique heritage with the world. Istanbul’s historic beauty is being rejuvenated by hundreds of creative projects. Artistic festivals and music events with top world performers will enchant audiences in the millions. In 2010, Istanbul’s cultural and creative life will be more vibrant and spirited than ever before in its 8000 years long history. So get your passport and yourself ready to come and be inspired by Istanbul in 2010.
If you want to fully experience Istanbul’s vibrant and spirited life in 2010, you will need a suitable place to stay and some assistance in handling the logistics of your visit.
Wishes & Dreams
your neighborly accommodation & service provider
Wishes & Dreams is not just another gay friendly place to stay. We are truly service oriented and attentive to your every need. We can assist you with restful accommodations, by proposing exciting places and events you should not miss, and by taking care of the boring and time consuming logistics of your program, so that you can be free to happily enjoy every minute of your time in our magic City. Our aim is to help each visitor realize his particular expectations and dreams.
As a traveling visitor, we can offer you a range of services, including:
· Studio accommodation at our Guest House centrally located in Beyoğlu neighborhood;
· Transfer from airport to Guest House upon arrival;
· Mobile phone translation to help you overcome the language barrier;
· Personal guide or companion to escort you and help you accomplish what you plan;
· Sundry other services you may request to satisfy your personal or professional needs.
Guest House and Studios
Our Guest House is ideally located in Beyoğlu, the throbbing heart of Istanbul culture and the GLBT entertainment and night life centre par excellence. Legendary landmarks, museums, shopping street, cafes, restaurants, saunas, bars and nightclubs are within walking distance from your doorstep.
The Guest House building has 4 floors with a self-contained studio on each landing. All the studios are air-conditioned and contain a combined double bed- and sitting room with free internet connection, flat screen TV, safe box, as well as shower and toilet facilities. Each studio has a kitchenette equipped with refrigerator, electric kettle, and microwave oven.
The basement contains laundry room with washing machine, shower, toilet, and a multipurpose room furnished in Ottoman style and equipped for leisure and relaxation.
In your studio you find a folder with up-to-date information about the cultural and artistic events taking place in Istanbul during your visit. The folder also provides first hand information about 20 of Istanbul’s gay venues - cafes, restaurants, hamam, bars and nightclubs. If any specific question of yours is not addressed in the folder, do not hesitate to ask the Guest House staff. They will be happy to give you an answer, together with maps, brochures and programs. Each guest receives a safety briefing upon arrival, as well as advice about appropriate gay behavior in Istanbul.
You can sleep to your heart's content and still enjoy a Turkish breakfast in the comfort of your studio when you wake up.
Personal Guide or Companion
In light of the large number of special events being organized in 2010 at various venues around the City, you may decide to hire a personal guide. Wishes & Dreams can offer you a reliable city guide or companion to escort you to specific places of your choice, whenever you want, for as long as you need, in order to help you achieve what you have planned. - You may want to explore and learn more about Istanbul’s cultural and historical landmarks: mosques, churches, palaces, museums, bazaars, etc.
- Maybe you would like to experience some gay venues in Istanbul. Ask for a personal guide to be your companion in hamams, cafes, restaurants, bars, nightclubs, etc.
- You are curious and want to visit a gay neighbourhood and get personally acquainted with people in their own surroundings. Our local guide can make it happen.
- Let a city guide escort you to ancient bazaars or modern shopping malls to look for items of special interest to you: jewellery, shoes, latest fashion or traditional garments, carpets, tapestries, embroidery, engravings & paintings, spices, ingredients for Turkish cuisine, musical instruments, antiques & collectibles.
Services available on request
You are a traveller visiting Istanbul for a short period of time, a few days or a week. You arrive at your dream destination with high expectations, itching to experience all your gay hopes during your brief stay in Istanbul. Every day, every hour of your visit is precious. Why waste your precious time in Istanbul trying to find the ways and means to realize your hopes, instead of enjoying every minute of the experience?
Contact Wishes & Dreams. Inform us about your travel plans, your expectations, your personal or professional interests, what you would like to explore and experience during your visit in Istanbul. We will be happy to assist you in any way we can, in order to make your visit a fulfilling and energizing experience.
The services that you can request are so numerous and so divers that we cannot mention them all. Every day thousands of events and activities are organized in Istanbul. To attend these events it is often necessary to make a reservation or buy a ticket in advance. We give one example below:
Learn to cook Turkish dishes
During your visit to Istanbul, why not learn to cook some delicious Turkish recipes which you can share with your friends back home? If interested we can arrange for you to attend a cooking class held for small groups of 4-10 people in a hotel kitchen with a local chef as instructor. During the 4-hour class, you will prepare a 4-course meal of traditional Turkish dishes. Recipes are provided for your keeping and at end of the session you sit down in the hotel restaurant to enjoy the delicious meal that you have prepared.
Rates and Mode of Payment
Studio rent for 1-6 nights is 75 € per night. The rate for more than 6 nights is 68 € per night. Breakfast is included in the price. The studio rent is the same for 1 or 2 persons; no additional charge for a second guest.Personal Guide: The fee for 1/2 day is 80 €; full day 110 €.
Services on request: The cost of special services depends on the nature of the service and is determined when the request is made.
We do not add any additional tax, VAT or similar charge on top of the published prices. When paying in currencies other than euro, we apply the official exchange rate of that hour.
Mode of Payment: You receive a printed invoice one day before check-out and can pay in cash (Euro, US dollar, Turkish Lira) or by credit card (Visa, Master). If for some reason you need to pay by bank transfer, kindly send us an e-mail before you arrive, or inform the guest house caretaker at least 4 days before your check-out.
Links to other pages
(right click to open the link in a new window)
How to make a reservation
Contact us
Links to other pages
(right click to open the link in a new window)
How to make a reservation
Contact us
